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22 inch tv with reasonable sound quality?


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Old 09-08-2015, 14:54
Ancient IDTV
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I want to buy a small tv set, 22 inch (or maybe 24 inch), price £160 maximum. Preferably from a high street shop (Argos, Sainsbury's, Asda are most likely). Problem is it seems like every time I check out reviews for a particular tv multiple reviewers mention tinny or poor sound from the on-board speakers, and I don't want to add external speakers. I just want the tv itself set up.

I know how lousy tv speaker sound can be, because I bought a 32 inch Panasonic set last year that sounded like a cheap fm radio. I took that back for a refund, but I don't want to end up doing that again.

Not bothered if it's 720p or 1080p, or how many connections it has. I just want a small tv with reasonable picture and sound quality. Not even going to be using a DVD player with it. It's only going to be used for Freeview (and Freeview HD if it is capable of it).

So, are there any tv sets on sale at the moment that fit those requirements?

Cheers.
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Old 09-08-2015, 15:02
chrisjr
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Simple answer, no. Sound quality on just about every LCD telly I have ever used is frankly crap. Basically with the trend for making TVs thinner than a fag paper there simply isn't the room to fit decent speakers so sound quality suffers as a result.

So if you don't use some sort of external audio device you have to put up with poor sound quality. It's just a question of how much crapiness you can tolerate.
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Old 09-08-2015, 15:45
Ancient IDTV
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I feared as much.

I have an old (2005, I think) Wharfedale 26 inch LCD tv that has good sound, but that set has large speakers either side of the screen. Similar to this.........

https://ssli.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDYwMA==/z/2zcAAOSwHnFVt6TJ/$_86.JPG

Wish they'd continued making sets with speakers like that.

The tv that this imminent purchase is replacing is a 20 inch Toshiba LCD from 2006, and that also has reasonable sound from the front mounted speakers

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/z/sDkAAOSwBahVU6CG/$_86.JPG

..........but it's had it. Needs replacing. Now I just need to find something suitable to replace it with.
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Old 09-08-2015, 15:46
Spruce
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I have two cheap Sainsbury's 24" own (Celcus) for bedrooms and they sound better than my 32" SONY.
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Old 09-08-2015, 16:22
Nigel Goodwin
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Only thing to do is go and try them in a shop, but small sets are generally far worse than larger ones, and almost all small sets are just cheaply made 'badged' sets, with most been Vestel ones.

Speakers have got a little better recently, at least on the larger sets, it's almost as if the manufacturers have had thousands of complaints about poor sound?
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Old 09-08-2015, 19:46
Ancient IDTV
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They usually have a few sets switched on in Asda and Sainsbury's, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to tell how good the sound is in that environment. I'm probably going to buy this set tomorrow. I suppose I could ask a member of staff for their opinion on the matter, but I'm not sure if they would know much about it.
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Old 09-08-2015, 19:51
webbie
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I know you don't want to add speakers etc to the tv, but if you get one with a headphone socket at least you will have the option to improve the sound later on if you had to.
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Old 09-08-2015, 22:14
Ancient IDTV
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Okay, thanks. I'll take that into consideration.

That's it, then........
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Old 09-08-2015, 22:18
davor
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Just buy a cheap sound bar to accompany your TV. Used ones can be bought for cheap.
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Old 09-08-2015, 23:53
1andrew1
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These small-screen Linsars have built-in soundbars.
http://www.linsar.com/products?featu...lt-in-soundbar
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Old 10-08-2015, 07:41
Ancient IDTV
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Thanks for the info., andrew. Their least expensive set sells for £270, though.
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Old 10-08-2015, 13:05
howard h
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I read the *no speakers* bit, but if you buy a telly with a headphone and usb slot, then at least you can run some decent usb laptop speakers from it without having to use the mains or cluttered wiring. Logitech are good for around 15 - 20 quid. Don't go for a cheap soundbar at those prices, proper speakers are better!
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Old 10-08-2015, 15:56
Ancient IDTV
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I ended up buying a Samsung UE24H4003 (£109, Asda). A 720p standard Freeview set. Got it set up. Picture quality, good (after a few slight adjustments). Sound quality..............nowhere near as bad as I feared it would be.

After messing about with the limited settings, I decided that it sounded best on the Standard setting with the volume turned quite high. It doesn't crackle or boom like some speaker systems I've encountered in the past, and it's clear enough. I think it's okay, anyway.


EDIT It actually does have a headphone connector, and an USB slot, btw. USB slot might come in handy.

Also, thanks for the replies.
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Old 10-08-2015, 16:38
Nigel Goodwin
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A 720p standard Freeview set.
You keep saying that, but there's no such thing - there aren't any 720 sets, and hardly ever were - it will be a 768 resolution set.
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Old 12-08-2015, 10:39
the power king
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the Sound you want it is A sound Bar however i Have a 22" Samsung with Good Sound on it however i Have a 32 " Sony Brever with Superb sound on it my Advice ether get a Sound Bar or 32" Sony TV both are great TVs
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Old 19-08-2015, 15:59
jjne
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External speakers are the way to go.

The sound quality on my 22" LCD (admittedly just a cheap Logik thing from Currys that I picked up a few years ago for £50) is actually offensive. Gives me a headache listening to it, shrieky and no response below 1000Hz it seems.

Thankfully it's in the study and is directly above a nice little Sansui micro system (RRP about £300)... so the headphone jack is just permanently connected to the second AUX on the stereo.
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